An optical reader, which is operable in a “host commands” mode and a “host routines” mode. In the “host commands” mode, the reader receives and executes a script routine module from a host. In the “host routines” mode, the reader receives a script routine Module identifier from the host, and the reader, in turn, executes a selected one of a plurality of reader-stored script routine modules based on the identifier.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A data collection system comprising a host computer and at least one optical reader, said optical reader including a portable housing, an image sensor, a memory, a script interpreter program residing in said memory, and a control circuit, said control circuit configured to output decoded message data corresponding to an indicia representation; wherein said at least one optical reader is configured, responsive to receiving a command from said host computer, to interpret by said script interpreter program and execute said command; wherein said command includes: an identifier of a routine to be executed by said optical reader, and at least one of: a request to acknowledge successful execution of said command by said optical reader, and a data item to be assigned by said optical reader to a variable in said memory of said optical reader.
A data collection system includes a host computer and an optical reader (e.g., a barcode scanner) with a housing, image sensor, memory, script interpreter, and control circuit. The optical reader decodes scanned indicia (like barcodes). Upon receiving a command from the host computer, the optical reader uses its script interpreter to execute the command. This command contains an identifier for a routine to run on the reader, and optionally: a request for the reader to confirm successful execution, and/or a data item that the reader assigns to a variable in its memory.
2. The data collection system of claim 1 , wherein said variable is a reserved system variable expected to return said decoded message data.
In the data collection system described in the previous claim, the variable to which the data item is assigned is a reserved system variable. This reserved variable is specifically designed to hold and return the decoded message data (e.g., the decoded barcode value) from the optical reader.
3. The data collection system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one optical reader is configured to request said command from said host computer.
In the data collection system described in the first claim, the optical reader can actively request a command from the host computer, initiating the communication and command execution process.
4. The data collection system of claim 1 , wherein said host computer is configured to transmit said command responsive to a user interface action.
In the data collection system described in the first claim, the host computer transmits a command to the optical reader in response to a user interface action, such as a button press or menu selection by the user.
5. The data collection system of claim 1 , wherein said script interpreter program is a part of a main operating program being executed by said optical reader.
In the data collection system described in the first claim, the script interpreter program is integrated as part of the main operating program that the optical reader is running, rather than being a separate, independent application.
6. A data collection system comprising a host computer and at least one optical reader, said optical reader including a portable housing, an image sensor, a memory, a script interpreter program residing in said memory, and a control circuit, said control circuit configured to output decoded message data corresponding to an indicia representation; wherein said optical reader is configured to interpret by said script interpreter program and execute at least one script statement received from said host computer; and wherein said script statement contains at least one of: a first parameter identifying a category of commands allowed to be executed by said optical reader when executing said script statement, a second parameter containing a list of commands allowed to be executed by said optical reader when executing said script statement.
A data collection system includes a host computer and an optical reader (e.g., a barcode scanner) with a housing, image sensor, memory, script interpreter, and control circuit. The optical reader decodes scanned indicia (like barcodes). The optical reader uses its script interpreter to execute script statements received from the host computer. The script statement includes a parameter that limits the commands allowed to run. This parameter can either be a category of allowed commands, or a specific list of allowed commands.
7. The data collection system of claim 6 , wherein said optical reader is configured to wait for said at least one command to be transmitted by said host computer.
In the data collection system described in the previous claim, the optical reader waits passively for script statement transmission from the host computer before attempting to execute any commands.
8. The data collection system of claim 6 , wherein said category of commands identifies commands specifically designated as allowed to be initiated by host computer.
In the data collection system described in the sixth claim, the category of commands identifies commands that are explicitly designated as allowed to be initiated by the host computer. This defines a restricted set of operations the host can trigger on the reader.
9. The data collection system of claim 6 , wherein said at least one optical reader is configured to request said command from said host computer.
In the data collection system described in the sixth claim, the optical reader can actively request a command from the host computer, initiating the communication and command execution process.
10. The data collection system of claim 6 , wherein said host computer is configured to transmit said command responsive to a user interface action.
In the data collection system described in the sixth claim, the host computer transmits a command to the optical reader in response to a user interface action, such as a button press or menu selection by the user.
11. The data collection system of claim 6 , wherein said script interpreter program is a part of a main operating program being executed by said optical reader.
In the data collection system described in the sixth claim, the script interpreter program is integrated as part of the main operating program that the optical reader is running, rather than being a separate, independent application.
12. A data collection system comprising a host computer and at least one optical reader, said optical reader including a portable housing, an image sensor, a memory, a script interpreter program residing in said memory, and a control circuit, said control circuit configured to output decoded message data corresponding to an indicia representation; wherein said optical reader is configured to receive a script statement from said host computer and to interpret a script statement by said script interpreter program and execute a script statement, said script statement instructing said optical reader to transmit a data item to said host computer; and wherein said script statement contains at least one of: a parameter identifying a prefix to be transmitted when said data item is not null, a parameter identifying a prefix to be transmitted when said data item is null, a parameter identifying a suffix to be transmitted when said data item is not null, and a parameter identifying a suffix to be transmitted when said data item is null.
A data collection system includes a host computer and an optical reader (e.g., a barcode scanner) with a housing, image sensor, memory, script interpreter, and control circuit. The optical reader decodes scanned indicia (like barcodes). The optical reader receives a script statement from the host computer and executes it using the script interpreter. The script statement instructs the optical reader to transmit a data item back to the host computer. This script statement can include parameters defining prefixes and suffixes to be sent with the data item, depending on whether the data item is empty or contains data. For example, send "prefix_value" if the data is present, or "prefix_null" if it is not.
13. The data collection system of claim 12 , wherein said optical reader is configured to execute said script statement responsive to a user interface action.
In the data collection system described in the twelfth claim, the optical reader executes the script statement that transmits data to the host in response to a user interface action, such as a trigger pull or button press on the reader itself.
14. The data collection system of claim 12 , wherein said script interpreter program is a part of a main operating program being executed by said optical reader.
In the data collection system described in the twelfth claim, the script interpreter program is integrated as part of the main operating program that the optical reader is running, rather than being a separate, independent application.
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September 28, 2009
July 2, 2013
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